Is Venezuela safe to visit in 2026?

Official stated by a public body on its page, in a statement or in the Gazette. Reported from operators, press or travel media, with their date. Unconfirmed no reliable source: confirm before you go.

What changed in 2026

Advice written before 2026 is out of date. Three events reshaped every advisory:

• Political change. A US military operation removed Nicolás Maduro in early 2026 Reported. The US Embassy in Caracas resumed operations on March 30, 2026 Official, and the US lowered its advisory from Level 4 to Level 3 on March 19 Reported.
• The double earthquake of June 24, 2026, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 according to the UK Official. It damaged roads and Caracas’s Maiquetía airport. The US describes a strong foreshock and an earthquake in quick succession, with widespread damage to transport, infrastructure and emergency services Official.
• Maiquetía reopened on September 1, 2026 in a temporary terminal with no shops or cafés when it opened. On November 3 the airline association ALAV counted 178 weekly flights, against 260 before the quakes Reported. The transport minister expects to recover part of the airport in the first half of 2027 Reported. More in the Maiquetía airport status.

Venezuela travel advisories by country

Each government grades risk differently. This is what we read on November 8, 2026.

What the US advisory says (June 27, 2026)

We read the full advisory on November 9, 2026. It lists five risks: crime, kidnapping or hostage-taking, terrorism, health and natural disaster Official.

• Level 4, “Do Not Travel” areas. The 32 km (20-mile) strip along the Colombian border (crime, kidnapping, terrorism); Amazonas (terrorism); Apure (terrorism); Aragua outside Maracay (crime, kidnapping); rural Bolívar (crime, kidnapping); Guárico (crime, kidnapping) and Táchira (crime, terrorism) Official.
• Embassy in Caracas. It resumed operations in March 2026, but the consular section provides emergency services only to US citizens, and very limited help outside Caracas. Visa services remain suspended and are handled from the embassy in Bogotá Official.
• Airport crime. It warns of higher risk with unregulated taxis from Maiquetía and with ATMs near the airport, and calls night travel between cities risky. It says there are no reliable crime statistics Official.
• Terrorism. Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles, designated foreign terrorist organizations by the US, started in Venezuela and still operate. Terrorist groups work in the border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana Official.
• Health. It calls the health system a “severe crisis”: medicine shortages, broken equipment, hospitals without running water or electricity and too few staff. The CDC recommends malaria medication; dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Oropouche and yellow fever are common, and contaminated water causes gastrointestinal infections Official.
• What it recommends. Insurance with medical evacuation, a communication plan with your family, an evacuation plan that does not depend on the US government, no physical resistance to a robbery and no flashy watches or jewelry Official.

Spain’s page, updated September 17, still says Maiquetía is closed Official. The UK and the press confirm the September 1 reopening Reported, so that part of the Spanish advisory looks stale.

Areas to avoid

The advisories largely agree on where not to go:

• Border areas. The UK advises against all travel within 40 km (25 miles) of the borders with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana Official. Spain flags the Colombian border states: Zulia, Táchira, Apure and Amazonas Official.
• Amazonas state. All travel advised against by the UK Official and Level 4 for the US, because of terrorism Official.
• The Orinoco Mining Arc in Bolívar, south of the Orinoco, and Delta Amacuro south of the Orinoco Official.
• The plains (Llanos). Spain names southern Aragua and Guárico Official. The US puts Apure, Guárico, Táchira, Aragua outside Maracay and rural Bolívar at Level 4, for crime, kidnapping or terrorism depending on the state Official.
• Poor neighbourhoods and protests, per Spain, which rates central Caracas districts as medium risk Official.

Angel Falls and Mount Roraima are both in Bolívar, south of the Orinoco. Before you book a package, check the UK map to see whether your route crosses the Mining Arc or the border strip. Our guides to Angel Falls and the Roraima trek go into this.

Staying safe on the ground

Getting out of Maiquetía airport

Canada calls Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía dangerous Official. Its advice is specific:

1. Arrive and leave in daylight

   Pick flights that land while it is light. If you land at night, consider staying nearby and travelling on the next morning.

2. Book a trusted pickup

   Arrange it before you fly: your posada, your tour operator or someone you know. Have the driver's name and phone number.

3. Never take an airport taxi

   Canada is blunt about it Official. The temporary terminal has no shops, so bring water and a snack.

Express kidnapping

“Express kidnappings are frequent and can occur anywhere in the country,” says Canada Official. These are short abductions to drain your cards or cash. Keep phones and jewellery out of sight, use pre-arranged transport and don’t share plans with strangers.

Power outages

Outages and electricity rationing are common, including in Caracas, and can last several days Official. They knock out phone networks and banking. Canada adds that outages have brought unrest, fights and theft Official. Spain also mentions water cuts and fuel shortages outside Caracas Official. Pack a torch, a power bank and some cash.

Crime figures

The latest figure we found from the Venezuelan Violence Observatory is for 2023: 26.8 violent deaths per 100,000 people Reported. We found no 2024 or 2025 data, and nothing measured after the 2026 political change.

Travel insurance

None of the official sources we read says insurance is required to enter. Don’t travel without it anyway:

• Spain recommends cover “as broad as possible”. Private healthcare is very expensive, public hospitals face shortages, and hospital stays and repatriation are on you Official.
• The UK warns: “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice” Official. Because it advises against all but essential travel to the whole country, many UK policies may not pay out.
• Canadians should check whether their policy excludes countries under “avoid all travel”.

Get it in writing that the policy covers Venezuela, medical evacuation and the regions you will visit. What to ask and an example with prices: Venezuela travel insurance.

Health

• Malaria. Canada confirms a risk in some areas and seasons Official. A travel clinic citing the CDC Yellow Book reports high year-round risk below 1,700 m, especially in Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro and Sucre Reported. In 2013 the CDC said chloroquine did not work in Venezuela (archived page) Official; ask a travel doctor about current prophylaxis.
• Yellow fever. The CDC reports more cases nationwide and advises vaccination at least 10 days before visiting areas where it is recommended Official. Canada requires proof of vaccination if you arrive from Brazil, including layovers over 12 hours Official. Spain cites 40 human cases in the past year Official.
• Other outbreaks. Spain lists dengue, chikungunya, Zika, diphtheria and measles Official. Canada reports a severe shortage of medicines Official: bring your own.

Book a travel clinic appointment early. The current CDC and WHO pages are the final word.

How to decide

1. Read your own government’s advisory when you book, and again right before you leave.
2. Rule out the red zones, and check the map if you are heading south of the Orinoco.
3. Lock in transfers and lodging before you land.
4. Go through the entry requirements and price the trip with the budget calculator, adding insurance and a contingency.

Places like Los Roques are sold as packages with a short flight from Maiquetía, which keeps road travel to a minimum.